Methods and apparatus for real-time performance monitoring in a wireless communication network

Abstract

A network performance monitor that uses open interfaces recently standardized for wireless communication systems to provide unbiased, real-time performance information and data analysis for each open interface. This in turn allows system operators and manufacturers to allocate resources efficiently and to identify and resolve problems associated with network nodes. The network performance monitor includes a monitor for monitoring messages on at least one communication interface of and an analyzer for analyzing the monitored messages and for generating real-time performance data based on the analysis.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A network performance monitor for monitoring the performance of a wireless communication network, comprising: 
 a monitor configured to monitor messages on at least one communication interface of at least one node of the wireless communication network; and    an analyzer configured to analyze the monitored messages and generate real-time performance data based on the analysis.    
     
     
         2 . The network performance monitor of  claim 1 , wherein the real-time performance data for a plurality of nodes is combined by the analyzer to generate composite real-time performance data.  
     
     
         3 . The network performance monitor of  claim 1 , wherein the real-time performance data is formatted by the analyzer into statistical percentages indicating the performance level in certain performance categories.  
     
     
         4 . The network performance monitor of  claim 3 , wherein performance categories: 
 busy hour call rates and call models include at least one of the following; successful versus failed call attempts;    reason for failed call attempts;    call drops;    reason for call drops;    average call holding times;    number of successful and failed SMS deliveries;    reason for failed SMS deliveries;    individual call traffic statistics;    packet data call statistics;    circuit data call statistics;    number of successful and failed registration attempts;    reason for failed registration attempts;    unusual call activity;    authentication;    SS7 link utilization;    trunk utilization; and    radio forward and reverse link frame error rate.    
     
     
         5 . The network performance monitor of  claim 1 , further comprising a display, wherein the network performance monitor is configured to display the real-time performance data.  
     
     
         6 . The network performance monitor of  claim 1 , further comprising a local area network interface, wherein the network performance monitor is configured to transmit the real-time performance data over the local area network interface to a local network.  
     
     
         7 . The network performance monitor of  claim 1 , further comprising an emulator configured to perform diagnostic testing on the wireless communication network by inserting predetermined test messages into specified communication interfaces.  
     
     
         8 . A wireless communication network configured to use open communication interfaces, comprising; 
 a plurality of mobile devices;    at least one network node configured to manage communication between mobile devices and between mobile devices and public networks; and    at least one network performance monitor, the network performance monitor including;    a monitor configured to monitor messages on at least one communication interface of the wireless communication network; and    an analyzer configured to analyze the monitored messages and generate real-time performance data based on the analysis.    
     
     
         9 . The wireless communication network of  claim 8 , wherein there is a plurality of network nodes, and wherein real-time performance data is gathered from the plurality of network nodes and combined by the analyzer into composite real-time performance data.  
     
     
         10 . The wireless communication network of  claim 8 , wherein the network performance monitor further comprises a local area network interface, and wherein the network performance monitor is configured to transmit the real-time performance data to a local area network over the local network interface.  
     
     
         11 . The wireless communication network of  claim 8 , wherein the network performance monitor further comprises an emulator, and wherein the emulator is configured to perform diagnostic testing on the wireless communication network by inserting predetermined test messages into specified communication interfaces.  
     
     
         12 . A method of performing diagnostic testing on a wireless communication network, comprising: 
 inserting predetermined test messages into a first plurality of communication interfaces of the wireless communication network, the test messages designed to generate known messages at a second plurality of communication interfaces;    monitoring messages on the second plurality of communication interfaces; and    analyzing the messages on the second plurality of communication interfaces to determine if they correspond to the known messages.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising using results from the analyzing step to isolate faults within the wireless communication network.